Systems and methods for using playlists

Abstract

Systems and methods for automatically generating a playlist of series assets and systems and methods for grouping assets of a playlist in clusters are provided. In one embodiment, series assets may automatically be included into a playlist for that series. In another embodiment, an interactive media guidance application may group assets in clusters based on one or more user selected parameters or may group assets in cluster based on automatically determined parameters. In yet another embodiment, the interactive media guidance application may group assets in clusters and display at least one identifier in connection with each cluster to indicate a basis for forming the cluster. The identifier may be a key word or catch phrase that succinctly identifies a trait or characteristic of assets in a particular cluster associated with the identifier.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for playback of media assets using an interactive program guide, comprising:
 selecting, by a user, a media asset in the interactive program guide, wherein the selected media asset is an asset that is part of a series; 
 determining that a threshold number of assets are available, wherein the threshold is greater than one, and in response, automatically generating by the interactive program guide a playlist including episodes from the series; 
 automatically arranging by the interactive program guide the media assets in the playlist according to a predetermined order; 
 determining that a first media asset belonging to the series is available from a server, and in response, dynamically updating by the interactive program guide the playlist by adding, to the playlist, the first media asset belonging to the series; 
 determining that a second media asset belonging to the series is no longer available from the server, and in response, dynamically updating by the interactive program guide the playlist by removing, from the playlist, the second media asset; and 
 in response to an instruction from the user to playback the media assets in the playlist, seamlessly playing by the interactive program guide the media assets in an order implied by the playlist. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the updating comprises:
 changing the representation of a media asset within the playlist when that media asset's accessibility changes state by removing the media asset from the playlist while maintaining the integrity of the rest of the playlist. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 removing a media asset from the playlist when that media asset has been deleted or is no longer accessible. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 preventing playback of a media asset from the playlist when that media asset is not authorized for viewing according to a digital rights management system. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 removing a media asset from the playlist when that media asset has been viewed. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein generating the playlist comprises automatically creating the playlist in response to a determination that a predetermined number of media assets belonging to the series have been recorded. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining that the threshold number of assets are available comprises determining that three or more assets that are a part of the series have been recorded. 
     
     
       8. A system for playback of media assets using an interactive program guide, comprising:
 input/output circuitry configured to receive a selection of a media asset in the interactive program guide, wherein the selected media asset is an asset that is part of a series; and 
 control circuitry configured to:
 in response to determining that a threshold number of assets are available, wherein the threshold is greater than one, automatically generate a playlist including episodes from the series; 
 automatically arrange the media assets in the playlist according to a predetermined order; 
 in response to determining that a first media asset belonging to the series is available from a server, dynamically update the playlist by adding, to the playlist, the first media asset belonging to the series; and 
 in response to determining that a second media asset belonging to the series is no longer available from the server, remove, from the playlist, the second media asset; 
 
 wherein the input/output circuitry is further configured to, in response to receiving an instruction to playback the media assets in the playlist, seamlessly play the media assets in an order implied by the playlist. 
 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to dynamically update the playlist by:
 changing the representation of a media asset within the playlist when that media asset's accessibility changes state by removing the media asset from the playlist while maintaining the integrity of the rest of the playlist. 
 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
 remove a media asset from the playlist when that media asset has been deleted or is no longer accessible. 
 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
 prevent playback of a media asset from the playlist when that media asset is not authorized for viewing according to a digital rights management system. 
 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
 remove a media asset from the playlist when that media asset has been viewed. 
 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to automatically generate the playlist in response to a determination that a predetermined number of media assets belonging to the series have been recorded. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to automatically generate the playlist including episodes from the series determining that three or more assets that are each a part of the series have been recorded.